Bearcats Sweep Past L&C Pioneers, 25-21, 25-16, 25-22

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

PORTLAND, ORE. -- Willamette University achieved a .319 hitting percentage with three players earning double-digit kills, as the Bearcats swept the Lewis & Clark College Pioneers, 3-0, in a Northwest Conference volleyball match at the Pamplin Sports Center on Wednesday, Oct. 30. Willamette prevailed, 25-21, 25-16, 25-22.

The Bearcats won for the third time in four matches and lifted their record to 9-13 overall, 5-8 in the NWC. Lewis & Clark slipped to 5-14 overall, 4-9 in conference play. The teams split the season series, as L&C took the first meeting, 3-1, in Salem, Ore., nearly a month ago on Oct. 2.

For Willamette, Sarah Fincher (So., OH, Reno, NV/Bishop Manogue HS/Southwest Baptist Univ.) recorded 16 kills and hit .310. Lindsey Compton (So., OH/S, Portola, CA/Portola HS/Univ. of Hartford) supplied 11 kills and hit .429. Compton also amassed 17 digs.

Shannon Waltz (Sr., MH, Honolulu, HI/La Pietra School for Girls) contributed 11 kills, had no attacking errors and hit .550.

Senior setter Emily Compton (Sr., S, Portola, CA/Portola HS/Boise State Univ.) guided the offense with 39 assists for an average of 13.0 assists per set. She also earned seven digs and two block assists.

Kataleya Milan led Lewis & Clark with 12 kills, while Brigitte Russo added 10 kills. Alexe Navarro produced a match-high 20 digs.

Willamette scored the first three points of the match and never trailed in the first set. WU surged out to a 10-4 advantage, as Fincher and Kirsten Brehmer (Sr., MH/OPP, Evergreen, CO/Evergreen HS) earned two kills apiece.

Lewis & Clark eventually pulled within 15-12 on a block by Kayla Ernewein and Kataleya Milan. During the next two rallies, Waltz pounded down a kill for WU and Milan added a kill for L&C, as the Bearcats remained three points ahead.

Willamette tallied the next two points to open a 7-3 run for a 23-16 lead. The run featured three kills by Waltz and a service ace by Lindsey Compton. The Pioneers crept back within 24-21, but a kill by Waltz ended the set.

In the second set, L&C earned the first two points, but Willamette quickly tied the score at 2-2 and moved in front on the next point with a service ace by Emily Compton. WU never trailed during the remainder of the set.

The Bearcats owned a 14-10 advantage following a kill by Fincher. After Russo achieved a kill for L&C, the Bearcats responded with a 4-0 run on an attacking error by the Pioneers, plus one kill each from Fincher, Brehmer and Waltz. Willamette also led 20-12 before cruising to a 25-16 win.

Lewis & Clark attained an early advantage in the third set, before the Bearcats rallied to end the match. The Pioneers led 7-2 and later took a 10-5 edge on a service ace by Navarro.

WU trailed 12-8 five points later, but went on a 7-2 run -- including three kills by Carly Hargrave (Sr., MH, Happy Valley, OR/Clackamas HS) and two combo blocks by the Bearcats -- to move in front, 15-14. The run also included a service ace by Lindsey Compton and a kill from Fincher.

The Pioneers tied the set at 15-15 when Tessa Belanger and Kelsie Dorpat combined to block a Willamette attack. The score was tied two more times before WU put together a 5-1 surge for a 22-18 advantage. Hargrave helped provide the final two points of the run with a solo block and a combo block with Elisa Ahern (Jr., OPP, Lake Forest Park, WA/Shorecrest HS).

L&C cut the lead to two points three times. After the Pioneers moved within 24-22, the Bearcats registered match point on a kill by Fincher.

Willamette concluded the match with 47 kills on offense and 9.0 team total blocks on defense. Hargrave led all players with six total blocks, while Waltz added three blocks. The Pioneers attained 39 kills to go with a .209 hitting percentage. L&C earned 6.0 team total blocks.

The Bearcats will return to action on Friday, Nov. 1 with a Northwest Conference match at Pacific University. The start time in Forest Grove, Ore., is scheduled for 7 p.m. (PDT).